Spark-plug for gas-engines.



D. H. GOLES.

SPARK PLUG POR GAS ENGINES,

APPLICATION FILED MAB. 2o, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Patented Sept. 21', 1909.

@Wmme k Z- @Z714 4g @2.

UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEioE.

'DAVID H. coLns, or BROOKLYN, NEW YoRK.

SPARK-PLUG FOR GAS-ENGINES.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patent-ed sept. ai, ieee.

Application filed March 20, 1909. Serial No. 484.717.

To all whom it may concern:

13e it known that LgDivinjH. CoLns, of Brooklyn, New-York, have invented a new and usefullinproveinent'iii Spark-Plugs for Gaslingines, which invention is fully sett'orth in the following specification.

ThisI invention relates to spark plugs for gas engines.

in the use of spark plugs in engines of this kind results from the accuniulation of carbon and .other'forei gn matter upon or between the electrodes ofltlie spark plugs, and resnlting in the failure of the plug to properly perform its functions, 'and in spark plugs as heretofore constructed, it has been touud necessary toirequently remove the 'plug from itsv position in the engine and clean the same, an operation which results -iii much loss oi time and annoyance. Not.

only does this Afoulingl of the spark plug cause the entire failure ofthe device to function, and the loss of time incident tocleaning the same, but in addition thereto, the efficiency of the plug gradually deteriorates,

so that even while it is operating, it is ,not4 operating as eilect-ively as would be the case.

it' it were kept continually clean.

The object 'of the` present invention is to provide means fory keeping' the spark plug clean, to the end, that it may constantly be in a condition to operate at its highestv efliciency, and may in' tact never ,reach the point Where it is coi'iipletely thrown out olf commission by reason of thev collection of carbon and other foreign material around the electrodes.

With this object in vieux/,the invention consists, generally statedfin spark plug of suitable construction, providedwith means for properly in'sulatingthe electrodes of the plug, and means operated periodically from the exterior of the plug, either by hand or automatically, for removing the collections of carbon or other foreign material that would operate to short-circuit or otherwise interfere with the proper functioning Vof the plug.

vThe invention may assume various forms, all of whichI` however, involve the ideaof a revoluble .element located lin Contact. with, or proximity to, the inner face of the spark plug, which element is connected to a suitable operating Stentor other means, extending through the lplng to the exteriorthereo'f,

' where it is provided with suitable means` One of the 'constant sources otannoyance for operating it. In some classes ofii'ia# l chines, the operatingumeans inav be inv' the torni ot mechanism tobe grasped b v the hand of the cliauii'eur, and an occasional turn given to the device for clcaning'tlie `:markk i expressions are shown in the accoinpai'iying spark plug in position'in the engine, and

automatic means for periodically operating the same to clean the plug; Fig. 2 is a seetional det'ail through the center ot the plug of Fig. l, showing the electrodes and cleaning device; Fig; 3 is au elevation ot the interior end of the plug, with the cleaning de'v vice in position; Fig. 4 is a sectional yview, ot

another expression of the invention; Fig'. isa plan view of the inner end of the 'plug shown in .Fig. et, with uthe cleaning ldisk removed; Fig. 6 is a like front plan of the plug of Figs. 4 land 5, with the cleaning kdisk ,l in position; Fig. 7 is a side elevationof the cleaning device of Fig. G; Fig. 8 is a agiaiiiinatic illustration ot' means for opel ating the cleaning disk by hand; Figvf) is a' sectional view of still another` mechanic, expression of the invention; Fig. l10 i cross-.sectional view of Fig. 9( on thelinc 10-10; F 11 is a brokensectional viewoffA 95 the inner end portion of Fig. 9; lf2V -is a front elevation of Fig. 9.

Referring v.to the drawings, in which like reference nui'nerals indicate correspondu'ig parts, theplug is provided with -`a 3casing il` screw-threaded 'on its interior portion for holding it' inv'positi'on inthe cylinder :ofthe engiiie,. and 2 is a jam-nut engaging the exterior screw-threaded portion ot the plug,

l while 3 is ascreW-threaded cap plug likewise engaging thescrew-threaded portion ot-thc exterior end'of the plug for clamping vand adjusting the insulating core 4 in the casing l. .Running .through the core 4 isa conducting vwire vteiminating at the interior tace ot' the plug in a point- 6, forming one o .f,tlie electrodes, which wire is provided ,at l out-er end-,with a binding post 7 yfor coni'iecting it to the wire Sleading tothe usual or any suitable source of electricity, as the'positive side of a battery. This conducting wire 5 is suitably anchored in the insulating mafterial. 4 by means of a shouldered. enlarge ment 9. Connection is made with the opposite or negative `side of the battery foy means of a wire 10, suitably connected, as by the 'screw 11, with the metal of the casing 11, and this casing has for the other'electrode ajsuitableppoint 12 of platinum for otherlproper material, preferably embedded' in .the casing, and having the terminus of 'tithev fe ctrlode within proper proximity to the-po the electrode 6, as will be readily understood by inspection of Figs. 2 and 3.4

Extending through the insulating-mate rial 4,4and preferably eccentric to the` plug, is a rod o'r stem 13, bearing on its -inner end a disk 14, and provided on its outer end with any suitable means for turning the stem. As hereinbeforestated, this means may be either automatic mechanism connected with the engine, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, or may be in the' 'nature of a small' lever or handwheel, as shown in Figs. 8 and9. The disk 14 does not cover the entire face of the plug l, but has a portion thereof cut away, as

' points 6 and 12 isreduced, so as to form ven a proximately a dulled knife or scraping et ge, as will be appreciated by an inspection of 1+"ig.2. The projecting exterior end of the stem 13 is screw-threaded, shown in F ig. 2,-and has nut 15 and jam-nut 16 engaging it to securely retain it in position.

1t 4will be understood that the rod or stem 13 is free. to turn inthe core 4, and when it is so turned, whether tothe right or the left, the edge of the disk 14 scrapes over the electrodes 6' and 12, thereby etfectually removing any carbon or other materia-lthat may have collected either on the points or ,on that portion ofthe insulating 'core adjacent to the points. As heretofore. stated, lthis turning action 'of the stem- 13-and the disk 14 for eli-acting the cleaning of the pointsV of the' sp: rk plug may be either hand-operated or automatic. As shown in Figs. 1 'and 2, the cleaning disk is operatedautomatically, and for this purpose the stemI 13 has on tlie'rear end thereof a pinion 16', which is engafved by a rack 17 on a rod...18, which rod is free to slide in brackets 19 and 20 attached to the frame ofthe engine. I rEhe rod also has some slight vertical play in the bracket 19, but is normally yieldingly held in its elevated position by spring 21 (see Fig. 1). The rod 18 is also surrounded by a spring 22 reacting between the bracket 19 and an abutment or .rod 18, under the influence of its spring ser 4 the machine, as the shaft 29. The cam 25 is formed, as shown in Fig. 1, with a straight, substantially radial face or` portion 3Q, and a spiral portion 31, beginning at the interior 'end of 4the face 30 and terminating at the exterior end of saidface 30. Inl addition .tofy

being 'engaged by the rack .17 on the rod the pinion 16 is also engaged by a pawl 32, which operates to prevent the pinion 16 from turning in .but one direction.

The automatic mechanism just described operatesv as follows: l/Vhen `the camA 25' has been revolved-in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1, to the point where the anti-frictional roller 24 slips ofi:1 of thev ex; terior portion of the cam, the rod 18 'is drivenfromA left toright, until the roller reaches the'interior'end of the straight face 90' portion 30 of the cam, and the proportion of l the partsl is such that thismovement of tr-ls hasbeen just suiicient togive the pinion 16, and consequently the stem 13 and cleaningg'.

-disk 14, one complete revolution.l Thereafter, the rod 18, and with it the -rack 17,-, isji' slowly impelle'd from right to left againstthe tension of the spring 22, -by the action of the cam portion 31 of the cam 25, the 100 spring 21 yielding suiiieiently to Apermit the teeth of the rack'l'v to slip past the teeth on the pinion 16'.

It'will be seen that by this construction the cleaning disk 14 will be operatedoncel 105' for every revolution of the toothed wireel'26, and this without any attention' from. the chauffeur.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the electrode 12 and the electrode 6 are just fiush with the 110 surface of the insulating material 4, and the y cleaning action of the disk 14 is-performed-L by scraping'over the` face of the insulating material. 1f desired, however, that portion of the insulating material lying between the electrodes and 12 may be removed, and in Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7, I have shown a construction of this character. In said figures, there is formed 'in the face of the insulating material a groove 33 concentric with the-120 stem 13 of the disk 14, and there is formed on the interior face of the disk 14 a lug or feather 34, which enters the groove 33, so that upon the revolutionsof the disk 14, the feather 34 effectually'removes the carbon or 125 other material from between the electrodes 6 Iand 12 traveling in the groove .3 to perform this function, while at the same time the disk cleans the carbon from the face of the plug, las described in connection with 13'0 Figs.` 1, 2 andr.` If desired, there may be, and preferably is, a feather 34 on the interior' face of the disk 14, on each side of the nutfaway space, as clearly indicated bydotted'lines in Fig. 6. i v

*Referring to Fig. 8;- 35 is a crank arm secured'to the exterior end of stem 13 of the spark plug, as previously described,.and 36 is a rod surrounded by a spring 37 reacting between a suitable abutment una .part of the machine and a pin or other abutment 39 on dash-board 40'and .terminating in a. handle 41, by which the rod may be seized and` pulled by the chauffeur, so as to produce a vpartial revolution 4of the stemv 13 sutiicient to revolve the disk to the oint Where it will clean the electrodes,.as wil be readily understood.

Referring to igspQ, 10, 1 1 and 12., 'there is shown a construction in which a scraping disk-14" is rigidly secured t, and indeed, may, if desired', form an integral part of, the casing 1. In this case, the cleaning disk does not revolve, but that portion of the insulating material carrying one or both of the electrodes is revoluble. In said figures,

42 is a cent-rally located stem, which .enfA

tends through a bushing 43 anchored .in the exterior port-ion of the insulating. materialv .44, the stem 42 being free to revolve inthe j bushing 43. The lower end 45 ofthe stem 42 1s squared, and takes into a suitable sleeve 46,1 fixed inthe lower' half of the insulating material which portion .44." is loose Within the casing 1,'andfree to revolve therein. 47 is the usual conducting Wire, extending through the insulating material 44,'-and terminating' at the inner facejthere'of, preferably with an enlarged face, asshown at 47', I? ig. 9, This wire-47 has the usual.

binding post and conductoieonnected thereto. At' diametrically opposite points Within the revoluble portion 44' of the insulating f tion of the insulating material 44*Will bring material, are two conductors '48., 48. l' The Wires 48 are such a distancefrom the center thativhen brought to rest at the proper point, one of them makes Contact With the conductor 47 through the enlarged end 47' thereof, as shown in Fig. 9. A halfrevoluthe other' conductor 48 into relation with vthe conductor 47, as will be readily understood.. In this construetion,"tl1e electrode 12' is not secured lto the easing I1, but is 'embedded in the face portion of the insulat ing material 44', in close contact With the interior of the metal forming theca'sing 1 Wiil be readily` understood from an' 1`n-l spection of Fig. 9. 'The exterior portion of the stein 42 may .have any suitable means for revolving it, as the hand-Wheel`49.v Itf.

Will be 'appare;':tthat. upon revolving the' hand-wheel, 49, theinsulating material 44', and with itthe electrode points 62.12,', yWill a point Where the conductors [and `48 o would exactly reglster each otht ray be employed, such, for example, as a on the shaft 42. engaging a removablel sto'I onthe jam-nut 5'0.

Referring to Fig. 11, there is. form of the device in which the'elctrode points, instead of lying Hush ywith the insulating material 4, `)rejectslightly beyond the facev of the insulating material, 'and in this case, the disk 14 is provided withagroove l:31 for clearing the points of'the electrodes, 'as Will be readily understood from said figure. f

It will be .observed from the Vf 'oregoing that I have provided an eiiicient means, operable from the vexterior o f the plug, for quickly and'eti'ectually cleaning the 'elec-v trod-es, without removal of the plug-from its position in the engine, and that the cleaning operation may thus be.v performed in yamini- 96 mum of time, if voperated by hand, and if operated automatically, as show-nin Ii`ig. 1, the chauifeur need give no attention Whatever '.to the same, being assured that lat all times his plug i'sfree from carbon or other material that Would interfeiewith its proper functioning. i i

It will be understood that the? particular construction of my spark plug as hereinbefore described, may be modified, the pro- '100 portion and relative arrangement of the parts changed, and some'A of the parts used Without using other parts, Without departi ing from the. realinventive idea involved; and all vof these changes and modificatif'ms which do not'contemplate a material cha:i :rein theprin'ciple of 'the invention are .meant to be included Within the appended claims` defining my. invent-ion.-

What I claim is 1. In a. spark plug, a casi'ng, an insulating memberinclosed by said casing, sparking terminals embedded in the inner face of 'said insulating member, a cleaning member in operative relation with the inner face of said insulatingmember, and means turning one of said members withrelation to the other, whereby said terminals are cleaned. v

2; In a spark plug, a casing, an insulating .member inclosed vbysaid casing, sparking vtermina-ls in close proximity to the innen face of said insulatingmember, a cleaning member inoperative relation with the inner face of 'said insulating member, and automatic means turning one of said members with relation to the other.; whereby said terminals are cleaned.

t 3. In a spark plug, a casing, v aninsu latin, v member inclosed by said vcasing, sparking terminals in close proximity vto -the inner 130 face of said insulating member, a cleaningv 'member' in operative relation with the inner face of said insulatinggmember, and automatic means intermittently turning one of lsaid members Withrelation to the other,

wherebyfsaid terminals are cleaned.

4. n asparkl plug, a casing, an insulating member inclosed thereby, sparking terminals embedded in the' inner face of said insulating member, astem` passing through said insulating member, a'c'leaning device on the inner end of said stem, and means on the outer end of the stem for turning the same.

In a spark plu0',a casing,van insulatingmember therein, sparking terminals embed-v ded inthe inner face of said insulating member, a cleaning device iniclose 4proximity to vsaid lface, a 4stem extending from said cleaning device ontvvard through said insulating` member, and' means for turning said stem,

and thereby operating said cleaning device.

6. Ina sparking plug, a,casing, an insu- 'lating memberIl therein, sparking terminals.

embedded in the innerv fac'eof Asaid insulating member, a stem passing through said insulating member, a scraper diskI carried on the inner end of saidstem, Aand means on the and adapted to scrape theinnenface. of-sai member, and providedwith a feather' engag ingisaid groove.

' Inl a spark plug,a 1casing, Aan insulating member iiiclosedI by-s'aid` easing," avco'nduct'or having an enlargement anchored infsaid ini' sulati'ng memberv and provided vv-ith-'aspark" terminal embedded'l'in' 'the'inner face of'said member and* said Uerminalsvv .i

In testimony whereof l I- have' vlsigned Vvthis ing witnesses;

J specificationv in the presence 'of tw'o'rsubscrib member, aj second'termi-nalembeddedinfsaid m emb'er, a nd -a revolublescraperadisk onjsaid` plug'adapted to scrape the 'innen face of- 

